Looping and tufting machine



April 26, 1932. c. A. BRAUDES LooPING AN'D TUFTING MACHINE 6Sheets-Sheet l Original-,FYledlJam 2l, 1926 INVENTOR: Zi/Pf/vcE/Ywz/ofs,

April 26, 1932. c. A. mmnsl LOOPING AND TUFTING MACHINE Original FiledJan. 2l, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 .,z `O t l C /f-d INVENTOR:

BY I

7 i ATTORN April 26, 1932. c. A. BRAUDES LooPING AND TUFTING MACHINE 6Sheets-Sheetl 5 Original Filed Jan. 2l, 1926 INVENTOR: ,mffvcf/Y/Mafs,

ATTORNEYS.

A April 26","1931 c. A. BRAUDES 1,855,175

LOOPING AND TUFTING MACHINE Original Fi-led Jan. 2l, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet4 l INVENTOR; l iwf/105i R/sfafs pril 2,6, 1932. v C, A, BRAUDES1,855,175

LOOPING AND TUETING MACHINE original Filed Jan. 21. 1926 e sheetsfsheet5 April 26, 1932- c. A. BRAU-DES 1,855,175

LOOPING AND TUFTING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 2l, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet6 @ff/ff.

INVENTOR: Z/YAf/vf/ 5w/70055,

. BY .j

ATTORNEYS.'

Patented Apr. 26, 1932 i UNITED STATES CLARENCE A...BBA`UDES, FBROOKLYN, NEW YORK I LOOPING AND TUFITING' MACHINE l Continuation ofapplication Serial No. 82,888, led

1930. Serial on the surface of said fabric.

sired design.

My invention relates more particularly to a new and useful looping andtufting machine of the character stated, adapted for the production ofornamental designs upon the upper surface of textile fabrics, throughthe medium of successive series of loops or tufts, which may be producedof any desired colored yarn and which may be so collocated upon thesurface of a fabric as to produce any de-` With the above ends in view,my invention consists of suitable means for guiding a piece of fabric ina plane, means for feeding or advancing said fabric in an intermittentmanner for each stroke of the machine,

and means for the adjusting of the feed of said fabric.

' My invention further consists of a hollow, tubular upright needle,adapted to carry a yarn through the fabric in an upward direc- .tion andin the form of a loop; thereby to form the loops upon the upper surfaceof -the fabric, without the aid of any auxiliary .relative to saidneedle.

loop forming means, and means to reciprocate said tubular needletransversely of the fabric, as well as means for adjustingv the lengthof the stroke of said needle.l

My invention further consists lof novel means forV engaging the loop ofyarn after it is carried through the fabric by the tubular needle andbefore said needle has been withdrawn, and to retain said .loop whilesaid needle is being withdrawn from said fabric during said downward or,return stroke, and means subsequently to cut said loop, thereby toproduce an open'tuft of the yarn.

My invention further consists of means-to adjust the relative height ofsaid needle and means correspondingly to adjust the height of said loopretaining and cutting means My invention further consists of. anovelJanuary 21,-1926. This application fued my 21, No. 454,469; Y l

means for actuating said fabric feeding and guiding means, said needlereciprocating l vmeans and sald loop retalmng an cutting means, so asproperly to time the same with respect to each other, foreach stroke ofthe machine.

For the purpose o f illustrating my invention, I have shown `in theaccompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred byme, since they will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results,although` it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities ofwhich my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized andthat my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement andorganization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

This application .is a continuation of my copending application SerialNo. 82,868, filed Jan. 21, 1926.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side'elevation ofa-novel looping and tufting machine enibodyinv my invention.

Figure 2y represents a horizontal section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents av front elevation,

partly insection, of my novel looping machlne.

Figure 4 represents aperspective view of a presser foot. l

Figure 5 represents a side elevation ofthe lookp retainer and cutter. .ln

igure 6` represents a front elevation of the same, showin the manner inwhich the lorp retainer an cutter functions.

igre 7 represents a sectionon line 7-7 of the-,Figure 5, showing thecutting portion -of said retainer and cuttr.-l

Fi re 8 represents a section online 8--8 of 'Figure 5, showing theretaining portion thereof.

Figure 9 represents a front elevation Vof the fabric feedlng mechanism,detached from the rest of the machine.

Figure 10 represents a side elevation similar to that shown in Figure 9,of a modified form of a fabric feeding mechanism.

Figure 11 represents a side elevation of.'

vthe upper portion of a loopingA machine embodying my invention, showinga modified construction in the loop cutting device.

Figure 12 represents a section on line 14-14 of Figure 11.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicatelike parts, 1 designates the table or bed plate of my novel machine,outlined in Figures 2 and 3 in dotted lines, upon which plate aremounted the'various operative elements of my novel machine. 2.designates an upper arm or housing consisting of the upright portion 3,which passes through the bed plate or table 1 and is suitably securedthereto, and the overhanging horizontal, longitudinal portion 4, whichis supported by said upright portion 3.

The upright housing portion 3 is provided at its lower end with a pairof pendant, longitudinally aligned bearings 5 and 6, in which isjournalled the main shaft 7, extending horizontally and longitudinallyof the machine, the free end of said shaft being journalled in a bearing8, which is secured tothe lower surface of the table or bed plate 1,- bymeans ofsuitable bolts 9. The main shaft 7 carries at'its outer end asuitable pulley 10, which is adapted to receive any suitable belt forlthe transmission of power to said shaft 7, and a suitable hand wheel 11whereby said shaft may be revolved manually, and which also serves as aflywheel to give a smoother action to the reciprocating parts of themachine. f.

The main shaft 7 also carries a pair of opposed bevel gears 12 and 13respectively, which are in mesh with a common bevel gear 14, carried bythe lower end of an upright transmission shaft 15, which is journalledin the suitable bearings 16 and 17 in said upright portion 3 of thehousing 2; one of Said bevelled gears 12 and 13 being iixed to the shaft7 at all times, by means of a set screw 18, while the other of saidbevelled gears is loose and idles on said main shaft 7. By changingtheset screw lfrom one of the bevel .gears 12 and 13 to the other, thedirection of rotation of the upright shaft 15 is reversed therebyadapting the machine either for the cut end loops or tufts, or foranother character of stitch formed by reverse operation.

The main shaft 7 is further provided with a series of eccentric camdiscs 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23, each of a different diameter andeccentricity, and is also provided with an'eccentric head.24, carried bythe endv of said shaft, and suitably fixed thereto by the screw or pin25. The upright transmission shaft 15 isprovided with the bevel gear 26atits upper end, which is in mesh with the bevel gear 27 carried by theend of an upperfshaft 28, which is journalled within the bearings 29 and30 in the upper horizontal portion 4 of the housing 2. The sprocketwheel 31 is secured to the other end of said shaft 28.

The two pendant vertical parallel guideways 32 and 33 are secured to theunderside of the table or plate 1, or may be formed integral therewith.Between the two guideways 32 and 33, shown more particularly in Figuresl and 2, is slidably mounted a reciprocable slide block 34, which isprovided with a suitable vertical opening 35 extending therethrough,which is adapted to receive the tubular needle 36, and to support thesame beneath the table 1. The set screw 37 extends into said opening 35,and is adapted to fix and secure the needle 36 in any desired position;thus permitting the vertical adjustment of the needle to produce loopsof the desired length.

The slide block 34 is further provided with a transverse horizontalguide slot 38 in the upper portion thereof, while the eccentric head 24,carried by the end of the main shaft 7, is provided with the inwardlyenlarged T channel 39, which is adapted to receive a nut 40, carried bythe threaded end of the stud 41, said stud being provided with a squaredopening 42, for the reception of a square shank wrench. The stud-41extends into the guide slot 38 in the slide block 34, as shown.particularly in Figure 3. Thus, by setting and fixing the stud 41 atany desired -point in the T channel 39, with respect to the center ofrotation of the head 24, said stud 41 will impart to said 'slide block34 a vertical reciprocating movement, of a stroke dependent upon thedistance of said stud 41 from the center. By means of the adjustableeccentric stud 41, it is thus possible to adjust the length of thestroke of the needle 36.

In order properly to guide the fabric upon the table 1, and to supportsaid fabric against the vertical upward thrust of the needle 36, Iprovide a small slide plate 44, preferably having a smoothly polishedupper surface, set into the table 1 and flush with the surface thereof,on either side of the opening 45 in the corresponding vertically alignedlower Slide bearng 5o. 'The presser' rod 51 is Slid- 'ably mounted insaid bearings 48 and 50,

and carries fat its lower end the presser foot 52, which is adjustablyand detachably secured thereto,` by means of the screws 53. Thehorizontal portion l52a of the presser foot 52 is bifurcated, with theouter limb thereof wider than the inner limb; said two limbs beinginbperative alignment with the needle 36, and straddling the same, inthe manner shown in Figures 1 and 3.

In order to retainthe presser rod 51 against rotation, there is provideda vertical slot 54 in the bearing 47, and a guide pin 55 extendingthrough said guide slot 54 and fixed in the rod 51. The helicalcompression spring 56, surrounding the rod 51', is interposed betweenthe upper part of the yoke 49 and an adjust- 7able collar 57 xed to saidrod 51 by means of theset screw 58, thereby urging said presser foot 52downwardly at all times, against the upper surface of the fabric, in ayieldable manner. The handle 59, pivoted at 60, is provided with afinger 61, which is adapted to extend into a suitable recess in the rod51, thereby to` engage said rod and to lift said rod 51 upwardly whenthe handle 59 is turned outwardly or rearwardly in the direction of thearrow 62, thereby to raise the presser foot 52 out of operativeengagement with the fabric. a

In order to feed or advance the fabric beneath the presser foot 52intermittently, there is provided the bifurcated feeder foot 46, havingits upper surface toothed, with the teeth inclined rearwardly; saidfeeder foot 46 straddling the needle 36, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Inorder simultaneously to impart to said feeder foot 46 a horizontal aswell as a vertical reciprocating movement, said feeder foot 46 iscarried by an arm 63, which is rigidly connected to a cam arm 64.through a common integral web 65. The two arms 63 and 64 are pivotedupon a common pivot 66, carried at its ends by the pair of similar armsor levers 67 and 68, which are carried by a common rocker shaft 69. Therocker shaft 69 is journalled within a pair of suitable bearing blocks70 and 71, fastened to the underside of the table or plate 1. The rockershaft 69 is operatively connected to a second rocker shaft 72, throughthe rocker arms 73 and 74, and the link '7 5. The rocker shaft 72 isjournalled within suitable bearing blocks 76 and 77, which are alsosecured to the underside bearing blocks 76 and 77, which are alsosecured to the underside of the table or bed plate 1, and in turncarries a' follower arm 78, having a follower roller 79 rotatablVmounted at its end. The follower 79 is adapted to ride on any one of theseveral eccentric cams 19 to 23 inclusive. ,l v

By this means, the rotationof the main shaft 7 will impart a rocking oroscillatory I .v niotion to the shafts 72 and 69 respectively,

thereby causing said arm 63 and hence the feeder `foot 46 to oscillateto and fro in the direction of thekarrows 80 and 81, with each stroke ofthe machine, and hence with each stroke of the needle 36. yThe length ofthe horizontal feeding movement or stroke-of the feeder foot isdetermined by the choice of the cam discs 19 to 2.3 inclusive.

In order to raise the feeder foot 46 upwardl a slight distance, intoengagement with t e fabric, during the forward or operative stroke ofsaid foot 46, (in the direction of also fixedly secured to the plate 1.Thus, as

the arms63 and 64 are oscillated to and fro, by the rocker arms 67 and68, the arms are also raised and lowered simultaneously by the cam 83,thereby imparting to the feeder foot 46 simultaneous horizontal andvertical reciprocating movements. This construction is best shown inFigure 9.

In Figure 10 there is shown a modified form of a feeder foot cam, forraising and lowering the arms 63 and 64, which cam 84 is pivotallymounted upon a support 85, at' a point 86, and has its lower end restinupon a horizontal guide flange 87, also carried by. said support 85. Inthis modified construction, the follower roller 82, after passing Voverthe extreme forward or pivoted end of ange 87. The follower roller 82then returns along the guide ange 87, raising the cam 84, as it passesbeneath the lowermost end thereof. The cam 84 drops into position againby gravity, and permits the roller 82 toride over the same, in theforward direction again. mounted cam, or switch cam, construction, allbackward drag upon the fabric is eliminated, since the feeder foot 46 isdisengaged from the fabric abruptly at the extreme end of the forward oroperative stroke thereof. By properlykadjusting the position of the cams19 to 23, inclusive, upon the main shaft 7, the stroke of the feederfoot 46 may be so synchronized with the movement of the needle 36 as toimpart to said feeder foot 46 a forward movement in the direction of thearrow 8O during the time that the needle is in the lower position andout of engagement with the fabric. Suitable springs, not shown in thedrawings, may be interposed between the shaft 72 and a suitablestationary or rigid point on the machine, for maintaining said shaftunder a constant torsional strain, thereby to retain the follower.

By means of this pivotally roller 79 against any one of the cams 19 toand is thus carried through the fabric with each stroke of the needle,in the form of a closed loop, having one side of the loop within theneedle and having the other side of the loop on the outside of theneedle, as shown in Figure 6. The end of the needle 36 is bevelled as at89, thereby causing said needle to penetrate the fabric more readily andalso causing the yarn 88 to be positioned upon the same side of theneedle at all times, as also shown in Figure 6.

In order to retain the loop 90 in position, while the needle 36 is beingwithdrawn, and in order subsequently to cut said loop at the top, aftersaid needle has been withdrawn from the fabric, I provide a novel rotaryloop retainer and cutter 91, of a suitably tempered spring steel,whichis secured to the boss 92, by means of a series of screws 93, saidretainer and cutter being provided with a spring blade 94, extendingoutwardly of the hub portion 95 thereof, in a spiral formation, andhaving a rounded or dull inner re- .tainingA edge 96, shown in enlargedsection in Figure 8, over a suitable portion of its length, and havingthe sharp cutting edge 97, along the inner portion of said blade, asshown ill enlarged section in Figure 7. The combined retainer and cutteris rotatably mounted upon a stud shaft 98, which is adjustably mountedin a suitable slot 99, in a lower pendant bracket 100, carried by thehorizontal housing portion 4, whereby the vertical height of saidretainer and cutter may be adjusted to accommodate the height of theneedle and hence the particular height of the loop 90. The stud shaft 98also carries a sprocket wheel 101, whereby said rotary retainer andcutter may be revolved, and sprocket chain 102 is passed over saidsprocket wheel 101, as well as the sprocket wheel 31 carried by theouter end of the horizontal shaft 28, and a suitable idler take-upsprocket wheel 103, thereby causing said retainer and cutter 91 torevolve in timed relation to the shaft 28 and hence in timed relation tothe needle 36. In order to permit the adjustment of the position of theidler take-up sprocket wheel 103, when such adjustment is required bythe adjustment of the height of the retainer and cutter 91, and thesprocket wheel 101, the stud 104 is also adjustably mounted in asuitable slot 105, as shown particularly in Figure 1.

By properly adjusting the position of the Y' sprocket wheel 31 upon theshaft 28, the rotary movement of the retainer and cutter 91 may be sotimed with respect to the stroke of the needle 36 as to cause the end ofthe blade 94 to engage the loop 90, in a manner shown in Figure 6, justas the needle reaches its uppermost position, thereby causing said loopto be retained by the rounded edge portion 96 of said blade, while theneedle 36 is on its downward or return stroke,- and thereafter '1.causing the sharp edge 97 of said blade to cut saifd loop so as to formthe desired open ended tu t.

' In Figures 11 and 12 I have shown a modified construction in the loopcutting means. In this modified construction the rotary loop retainerand cutter and the pendant bracket 100 are eliminated, and instead thereis provided a' housing head 112. In this modification there isaneccentric 113 provided on the end of the upper shaft 28 carrying asuitable eccentric in or screw 114.v To the head 112 is adjusta lysecured the slotted arm 115, by means of the two screws 116 passingthrough a suitable slot 117. The lower end of the stationary arm 115carries a bearing 118, in which is journalled a suitable pivot pin orshaft 119. To one end of this pivot pin or shaft 119 is rigidly secured,by any suitable means, a cutter arm 120, while to the other end thereofis rigidly secured, also by suitable means, the actuating arm 121. Tothe cutter arm 120 is adjustably secured a thin and oscillating cuttingblade 122, by means of the screws 123, while a stationary blade 124having the lower cutting edge 125 is rigidly secured to the stationaryarm 115, by means of the screws 126. The actuating arm 121 isoperatively connected to the eccentric pin 114 by means of an adjustableconnecting rod l.

127 and a pin or screw 128. The adjustable connecting rod 127 iscomposed of an upper and a lower member 129 and 130 respectively, eachprovided with a suitable slot 131, which are secured to each other bymeans' of the two screws or other detachable fastening means 132.

Thus, with each stroke of the machine and hence with each revolution ofthe shaft 28, the cutting arm 120 will be deflected by the eccentric pin114, thereby causing the blade 122 to oscillate to and fro, past thestationary cutting edge 125, thereby to effect a shearing action betweensaid stationary cutting edge 125 and the movable cutting edge 133 of thecutting blade 122. The movable cutting blade 122 as well asthestationary blade 124 are so positioned with respect to the needle 36,as to cause said movable blade to engage and retain the loop of yarnhanging over one side of the needle and to bring the same between thetwo cutting edges 125 and 133, thereby severing the loop. The presserfoot mechanism in this particular modification of my invention may becarried by the cover plate 134 of the frame head '112, as shownparticularly in Figure 12.

In order to adjust the height of the cutting mechanism with respect tothe needle 36, and

in order to adapt the same to varying heights of loops, it is merelynecessary to raise or lower the stationary arm 115 by means of thescrews 116, and to adjust the length of the connecting rod 127 acorresponding amount. by means of the screws 132. With the aid of theadjustment screws 123, the blade 122 may formation of the loops or ofthe pile are immediately discovered by the operator and ma be correctedbefore substantial damage is one. There is the further advantage of .l

eliciency in that the operator seeing the performance of the machine isenabled to speed up operation without impairing the quality o theproduct. Manual access immediately can be had to any of the loops incase of slight irregularity. The machine, moreover', does not exert anypressure upon the loops, as would a machine forming the loops on theside of the fabric which rests on the table. Inasmuch as the loop is notformed through the thickness of the table, my machine renders possiblethe formation of the shortest possible loop or tuft, the thickness ofthe retaining pin or shear being the only limitation as to length.

While the drawings of the present application show a single needlemachine and the specification concerns itself with the descripe tion ofsuch a machine, itwill be very obvious that a multiplicity or a batteryof needles and associated loop retainers and cutters might be utiliz-edand that the plurality of needles might be independently operated ormight be operated in unison from a common actuating means.

Y It will also be understood that the term table as used in thisapplication is to be interpreted in its broadest sense. In so far as thepresent invention is concerned, it is immaterial whether a solid,table-like support member is utilized or whether equivalent devices areused, such for instance as skeleton frame members or other apparatuswhich is the full equivalent of a table. The primary consideration is toproperly support the fabric while it is being operated upon and anydevice for effecting such support is considered to be a table within thescope of the appended claims. l

Having thus described my inventionwhat Iclaim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the character stated, ahorizontal table, a reciprocable needle adapted to carry a loop of yarnupwardly through said table and through a fabric thereon, means toretain said loop in the outermost position, means to cut said loop andmeans to actuate said needle and said retainer and cutter in timedrelation to each other.

2. In a device of the character stated, a horizontal table, areciprocable needle adapted to carry a loop of yarn upwardly throughsaid table and through a fabric thereon, means in operative alignmentwith said. needle, to retain said loop of yarn, upon beingl carriedthrough the fabric by said needle, and to cut the same thereafter, and'means to actuate said needle and said loop retainer and cutter in timedrelation to each other.

3. In a device of the character stafed, a horizontal fabric supportingtable, an`upright, reciprocable needle adapted to carry a loop of yarnthrough the table and fabric inl an .upward direction, means above thetable to retain the loop after it is formed, cutting means coactingtherewith, and means, to actuate said needle, said retaining means andsaid cutting means in timed relation to each other.

4. In a deviceof the character stated, a table, an upright, reciprocableneedle adapted to carry a loop of yarn upwardly and through said tableand through a fabric thereon from below the table to its upper surface,means in operative alignment with said needle to retain said loop, andsubsequently to cut said'loop, and means to actuate said needle and saidloop retaining and cutting means in timed relation to each other.

5. In a device of the character stated a substantially horizontal table,a reciprocable needle extending through said table, a loop retainer andcutter positioned above said table in operative alignment with saidneedle, meansA below said table to actuate said needle and means abovesaid table to actuate said loo retainer. and cutter in timed relation tosai needle.

6. In a device of the character stated, a table having a suitableopening therethrough, an u right reciprocable needle extending theretrough, means below said table to support and guide saidneedle in adesired path, a loop retainer and cutter positioned v above said. tablein operative alignment with said needle, means to adjust the stroke ofsaid needle in said support, means to actuate said loop retainer andcutter and said needle in timed relation to each other.

7. In a device of the character stated, a. table, a reciprocable needleadapted to carry a loop of yarn through a fabric supported on' thetable,means above the table ,to retain said loop,fmeans ,contacting with saidrefifiv lis tainer to-coact therewith for shearing said loop, means toadvance the fabric intermittently and transversely of the line of travelof said needle and means to actuate said needle from below the table,said retainer and said cutter in synchronism with each other, so as tocause sa1d loop retainer to engage the loop when formed and subsequentlyto "cause 'said cutter to cut said loop and to cause said fabric toadvance while the needle is withdrawn from the fabric.

8. In a device of the character stated, a fabric supporting table, areciprocable needle adapted to carry a loop of yarn through the tableand fabric, a loop cutting device above the table comprising a pair ofshearing members adapted to move relative to each other ,substantiallyfree from tension on the loop,

and means actuating said needle and said loop cutting device in timedrelation to each other.

9. In a device of the character stated, a susbtantially horizontaltable, an upright reciprocable needle extending through said table, aloop ,cutting device positioned above -"said table in operativealignment with said needle, comprising a pair of shearing ele mentsadapted to move relative to each other, -means below said table toactuate said needle, and means above said table to actuate said cuttingdevice in timed relation to said needle.

10. In a looping and tufting machine of the character in which a needlemoves through a fabric supporting table and fabric thereon, and carriesa loop upwardly through the fabric, a housing, a stationar blade carriedby said housing, a movable lade pivot ally carried by said housing inoperative alignment with said stationary blade, a shaft journalledwithin said housing and means inter- 'mediate said shaft and saidmovable blade to impart to the latter an oscillatory movement to enterand cut the loop.

11. In a looping vand tufting machine of the character in which a needlemoves through a fabric supporting table and fabric thereon, and carriesa loop upwardly through the fabric, a housing, a supporting farmadjustably mounted thereon, a stationdetachably secured to said arm, acutter shaft journalled in said arm, a movable blade carried by saidshaft in operative alignment with said stationary blade, a shaft journalled in said housing and adjustable means intermediate said shaftand said cutter shaft for 7imparting to the movable blade an oscillatorymovement to enter and cut the loop.

13. In a looping andA tufting machine of the character in which a needlemoves through a fabric supporting table and fabric thereon, and carriesa loop upwardly through the fabric, a housing, a stationary blade, amovable blade arm pivotally carried thereby, said movable blade beingadjustably secured to said blade arm in operative alignment with saidstationary blade, an operating shaft end of said cutter'shaft, anactuating arm secured to the other end thereof, a resilient movableblade adjustably secured to said blade arm, in operative alignment withsaid stationary blade, an operating shaft, an eccentric pin carriedthereby, and an adjustable connecting link intermediate said eccentricpin land said actuating arm to oscillate said cutter shaft and hencesaid movable blade.

15. In a device of the character stated, a fabric supporting table, areciprocable needle having a longitudinal bore extending therethroughand adapted to have a yarn passed through said bore, said needle beingadapted to carry a loop of ,said yarn upwardly through a fabric on saidtable, means above the table to retain and to cut the loop and means toactuate said needle and said loop retainer and cutter in timed relationto each other.

16. In a device of the character stated, a substantially horizontaltable, a reciprocable needle extending through said table, a loopretainer and cutter positioned above said table in operative alignmentwith said needle,

means below said table to actuate said needle, and means to actuate saidloop retainer and cutter in timed relation to said needle.

17. In a device of the character stated, a substantially horizontaltable, an upright reciprocable needle extending through said table, aloop cutting device positioned above said table in operative alignmentwith said needle, comprising a pair of shearing elements adapted to moverelative to each other, means below said table to actuate said needle,and means to actuate said cutting device in timed relation to saidneedle.

18. In a device of the characterlstated, af

horizontal table, a reciprocable needle adapted to carry a loop of yarnupwardly through said table and through a I fabric thereon, means abovesaid table to cut said loop and means toy actuate said needle and saidcutter fabric in a horizontal plane and moving it step by step in saidplane, passing a loop of yarn upwardly through the fabric from below thelatter after each forward feeding step of the fabric, and engaging andsevering said loop prior to the engagement of the next loop. A

20. In a device of the character stated, means for supporting inhorizontal position lo a piece of fabric to be worked upon, areciprocable needle adapted to carry a loop of yarn upwardly throughsaid supporting means and fabric, means to retain said loop in theoutermost position, means to cut the loop and means to actuate theneedle, the retainer and the cutter in timed relation to each other.

21. A method of forming a tufted fabric which includes the steps ofsupporting the fabric in a horizontal plane and moving it step by stepin said plane, passing a loop of yarn upwardly through the fabric frombelow the latter after each forward feeding step of the fabric,supporting said loop against gravitational collapse and then cutting theloop while so supported. l

22. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting a fabricin a substantially horizontal plane and for moving the fabric step bystep in said plane, a hollow reciprocable needle arranged below thefabric and adapted to carry a loop of yarn upwardly through the supportand the fabric, means arranged above the fabric for retaining said loopagainst 'gravitational collapse, means to cut said loop while s'oretained, and means for operating the needle, the retainer and thecutter in timed relationship.

23. A machine of the class set forth in claim 22 and wherein the timingof the parts is such 40 that one loop is cut prior to the formation ofthe next loop.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this20th day of May, A. D. 1930.

CLARENCE A. BRAUDES.

